Central, Eureka return to Steighorst Invite title game

(Hillsboro) The Central Rebels will again meet Eureka for the championship of the Steighorst Invitational after both teams won in the semifinals Friday night on KJFF.

Eureka started the night by defeating the Seckman Jaguars 67-51.

Seckman was far more game than the final score might suggest, actually leading the Wildcats at halftime thanks to their veteran core.

Despite trailing 26-23 at the half, Eureka turned things around on the Jaguars, taking a 44-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.

And every time that Seckman rallied, Eureka would deliver a knockout punch in return.

Seckman falls to 4-1.

The second semifinal was a thriller that saw Central defeat the Festus Tigers 62-61.

In a rematch of a lopsided game from a week ago, Festus was in it all night this time, taking a late lead thanks to senior guard Cole Rickermann.

Rickermann finished with a team-high 18 points.

But one of Central’s players was fouled in the final seconds, and it wouldn’t be one of the Rebels’ proven stars who won them the game, but instead junior forward Triston Stewart.

Jobe Bryant scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Rebels.

Junior forward Kendall Horton finished with 16 and was the Applebee’s of Farmington Player of the Game.

While Festus drops to 2-2, Central is 3-0.

The Rebels will face Eureka in the Steighorst Invitational championship game for the second straight season.

A tripleheader of trophy games comes your way on J98 Saturday afternoon starting with the Hillsboro Hawks facing the Windsor Owls for consolation at 2.

The Festus Tigers will meet the Seckman Jaguars for third at 3:30, followed by Central and Eureka in the title game at 5.

Pregame coverage from the Steighorst Invitational starts at 1:45 on J98.

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